The Hell-Fire Clubs conjure up images of aristocratic rakes outraging respectability at every turn, cutting a swath through the village maidens and celebrating Black Masses
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Those are the words of the teenage lover in Aucassin and Nicolette, a graceful little French romance eight centuries old. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Those are the words of the teenage lover in Aucassin and Nicolette, a graceful little French romance eight centuries old. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witty and informative
15 July 2002
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Much to my surprise, this is a wonderful and witty history of not only Western anti-morality philosophies but also of British politics in the mid-nineteenth century. Ashe is a master at understatement, dry humor, and clear writing, making this a great and important read if you want to understand the underpinnings of British upper class society and politics in the nineteenth century (as well as some of the nasty pasttimes of some of that era's peers). I was pleasantly surprised that the book did not dwell on salacious details of the libertine "clubs" discussed, but gave just enough description for the reader to get the gist of what was going on and why. Ashe also deserves praise for making quite plain which supposed "facts" are (or were) rumors, disinformation, lies, or, unfortunately, truth. Clearly, Ashe spent much time and effort researching this subject matter; it plainly shows.
In the end, this book is a well-balanced and scholarly dip into the pool of both Rabelaisian philosophy and its influences, as well as British history and politics. What makes this book a gem is that it is never dry or too erudite -- it is compulsively readable. I found myself enjoying it more and more as I read further.
In the end, this book is a well-balanced and scholarly dip into the pool of both Rabelaisian philosophy and its influences, as well as British history and politics. What makes this book a gem is that it is never dry or too erudite -- it is compulsively readable. I found myself enjoying it more and more as I read further.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent History
6 Sep 2000
By Lanny Quarles
- Published on Amazon.com
This was an excellent history of the Hell-Fire Club Phenomenon in 18th Century England, as it tries very successfully, I think, to Contextualize the Clubs and their Members, within the various Political and Cultural developments of that Age.. It has some marvelous imagery and details, which bring smiles on about every other page. Take for instance an iced Cake that resembles a building which is then knocked down with miniature cannonballs by young ladies.. this was just some ancillary detail in the book about a symbolic event at a Hanoverian Prince's party.. A Lot of this book made me think of Peter Greenaway's very hard to find _Baby of Macon_.. As for a lack of "Moral Guidance".. Happily, Its really a "history", not some half-baked diatribe, or confected subjective "grotesque", like the author of the above reveiw wouldve wanted.. EEch!.. Very interesting and fun book.. and not at all some metaphysical curiosisty.. This is a small tightly researched little gem, at an affordable price.. And a good introduction to the more interesting underbelly of UK history.. I am now looking for a copy of _Strange Wycombe_ next! Enjoy!!! Oh, But one detraction.. It couldve used some nice color plates, like of the portraits of the Club-members, and pictures of like Edmund Curll, and the various places and people of the book.. Other than that... Great Stuff..
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
marvelous history of devitry
18 Nov 2006
By Scott C. Locklin
- Published on Amazon.com
This book used to be titled "Do What you will" -though the Hellfire Clubs are the real subject matter. The saying, "do what you will" was a more tenuous connecting theme. There are some small updates to the original text (which I have also read), but it is again largely a survey of the wonderful antics of the early British, American (Ben Franklin was an associate of Satanist types at least) and Irish gentleman-Satanists and sandwich-inventors. I wanted a copy of my own and couldn't resist revisiting these agreeable rakes and their adventures and antics. These clubs were dedicated to drinking, wenching, political intrigue, blasphemy, and various other forms of debauchery. Many such clubs have existed among upper class englishmen, and still do; these were the most colorful, and the note of blasphemy had a strong political/religious component which would not be present today. One of these days I have to try out their recipe for chicken ("... of venus") and "scaltheen" (whiskey with butter and brimstone).
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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